Is Ajith Kumar’s Vidaamuyarchi a remake of Hollywood film Breakdown? Maybe or not, let’s find out

Ajith Kumar’s much-anticipated film Vidaamuyarchi finally hit theatres on Thursday. Much to the fanfare and celebration, the Magizh Thirumeni film is an action thriller which is a road drama majorly set in the arid landscape of Azerbaijan.

With rumours floating before the release of Vidaamuayarchi that the film is a remake of the 1997 Hollywood flick Breakdown, the team of the Ajith Kumar-starrer had maintained silence if the news is true or not. But with the film hitting theatres, let’s find out if Vidaamuyarchi is indeed a remake or not.

Also read: Vidaamuyarchi Review: Ajith Kumar and Magizh Thirumeni's film is a well-crafted action thriller that is both grounded in simplicity and true to genre 

Is Vidaamuyarchi remake of Breakdown?

For those who have not watched Breakdown, the film is a crime thriller film directed and co-written by Jonathan Mostow. It stars Kurt Russell, J. T. Walsh and Kathleen Quinlan in the lead roles. A road trip action drama, it revolves around a couple who face a car breakdown in the middle of a deserted road. With a truck passing by, the husband sends off his wife along with the couple inside so that she can be dropped in a nearby café, while he can seek help to repair his car. However, only later he realizes, that his wife is not in safe hands and has been abducted by a mysterious network.

Now addressing the elephant in the room. Is Vidaamuyarchi really a remake of Breakdown? The trailer and teaser have already given out how Ajith and Trisha play a couple stuck in a situation, while Regina Cassandra and Arjun Sarja play the antagonists. With the roads of Azerbaijan, a character by itself, Ajith Kumar-starrer is indeed an adaptation of Breakdown and borrows amply from the Hollywood film.

Also read: Vidaamuyarchi actor Regina Cassandra Interview: 'Magizh sir told me there are scenes where people will be able to see...' 

How Vidaamuyarchi excels as a remake?

Vidaamuyarchi keeps the essence of the original intact, and elevates with technical prowess and by smartly underplaying the star power. With Ajith in the forefront, Vidaamuyarchi becomes all about this character Arjun, the helplessness, his subsequent determination and the strength of love he has. When Trisha’s Kayal gets abducted, Magizh Thirumeni crafts a world where Arjun is free of his superhuman powers that Indian stars are always subjected to. With him being stripped off his heroism and grandeur, Vidaamuyarchi gives ample space for the ensemble to shine, especially the antagonists played by Regina and Arjun. There is a specific backstory, a possible twist, and a redemption arc. Carefully aided by background score and cinematography, Vidaamuyarchi despite being a remake, becomes an enjoyable ride.

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